Going to the Edge of Space to Set a Skydiving Record

By

Russell Gold

Oct. 7, 2012 7:41 p.m. ET

An Austrian daredevil plans to break a 52-year-old record for the highest skydive early Tuesday morning above eastern New Mexico, in a feat that will test the limits of technology and the human body at the edge of space.

Felix Baumgartner plans to ascend to 120,000 feet in a 55-story-tall helium-filled balloon and then jump back to earth.

During the first few minutes of his descent, his free fall is expected to break the...